Power transfer
First Claim
1. A power transfer unit of the type including a housing, a drive gear shaft rotatable within the housing and a pinion gear shaft rotatable within the housing comprisingA. a drive gear associated with the drive gear shaft,said drive gear being provided with a plurality of continuous power transfer material flow paths,said drive gear terminating laterally in a pair of spaced heads,at least some of the flow paths of the drive gear extending longitudinally the entire length of the drive gear and terminating at each head of the drive gear;
- B. a rotatively mounted pinion gear disposed adjacent to said drive gear,
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Accused Products
Abstract
The power transfer of the present invention employs a driver having a medial section which includes a plurality of continuous, helical grooves and a plurality of axially aligned transfer material return flow paths. The medial section terminates at each end in a generally cylindrical head, each of which is provided with grooves which communicate with the medial section grooves. The head grooves conduct the power transfer material to the axial paths for axial flow through the driver. The power transfer material flows through the helical grooves, through the head openings, if so embodied or if used, through the head cooperating grooves and the axially aligned paths to travel a complete, circuitous route about and through the driver. A cooperating driven pinion of single or generally double enveloping worm gear configuration positions immediately adjacent the driver and is provided with a plurality of helical grooves of pitch, size and design to overlie the helical grooves of the driver to form closed paths through which the interposed transfer material travels as the driver is rotated. The multiple interposed transfer material contacts between the driver and the driven pinion results in an angular power transfer at greatly reduced friction and power requirements.
26 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A power transfer unit of the type including a housing, a drive gear shaft rotatable within the housing and a pinion gear shaft rotatable within the housing comprising
A. a drive gear associated with the drive gear shaft,said drive gear being provided with a plurality of continuous power transfer material flow paths, said drive gear terminating laterally in a pair of spaced heads,at least some of the flow paths of the drive gear extending longitudinally the entire length of the drive gear and terminating at each head of the drive gear;B. a rotatively mounted pinion gear disposed adjacent to said drive gear, - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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2. said pinion gear including a plurality of grooves in its outer surface, portions of the flow paths in the drive gear being adapted to overlie portions of the grooves of the pinion gear in a power transfer area;
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C. power transfer material in moving engagement with the overlying portions of the flow paths of the drive gear and the grooves of the pinion gear in the power transfer area for transferring rotative power between said drive gear and pinion gear.
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37. In a drive gear suitable for rotation on a shaft, the combination of
A. a body having a peripheral surface and a longitudinal axis; -
B. said body terminating at its longitudinal ends in spaced heads; and C. a plurality of continuous flow paths formed in the said body whereby power transfer material can transverse about the body in a plurality of continuous paths, 1. at least a plurality of flow paths comprising helically generated grooves formed in the peripheral surface, 2. the flow paths comprising cooperating grooves formed in the heads. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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Specification